Team success over personal glory for captain Shanaka

By Champika Fernando in Abu Dhabi

His stats at the T20 World Cup may not earn him many admirers – 96 runs and two wickets across eight games is poor by any measure. But skipper Dasun Shanaka has no qualms, saying his role in the team is that of a "floater".

Speaking at the post-match press conference after Sri Lanka ended their World Cup campaign on a high note, beating West Indies by 20 runs on Thursday, he said he had done what the team required without worrying much about his personal achievements.

“No, it’s not a burden,” he replied, when asked whether captaincy was a weight on his shoulders. In the final game, he promoted himself to No. 4 and played a little cameo, scoring an unbeaten 25 to lift Sri Lanka to a total of 189/3.

“Not many people know my role in the team," he explained. "I played as a floater. I didn’t have a permanent spot in the batting order and, had I got one, I would have done better. Having said that, the team comes first for me, more than any personal gains, and I have done just that. I bat at the top in domestic cricket and even in the Lanka Premier League. That gives me sufficient time to settle and score runs. But not when you are a floater."

Although he made his debut against Pakistan in 2015, Shanaka wasn't a regular member of the national team due to inconsistent selections. With several seniors out of reckoning in white-ball cricket, the selectors turned to Shanaka when his predecessor Kusal Janith Perera did little to impress in his short stint at the helm.

Shanaka’s men exceeded the expectations of a nation when they qualified for the Super 12s and pushed some big names like South Africa and England to the brink of defeat. They beat Bangladesh and West Indies to leave the tournament with five wins across eight games.

“We did well as a team,” the 29-year-old skipper said. “Yes, we erred at some crucial moments. That cost us a semi-final spot. But I am really proud of this team and what they have put on show."

The captain is impressed with the talents of Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka who were the two outstanding performers with the bat while Wanindu Harasanga made headlines with his bamboozling bowling. Asalanka is the tournament's highest scorer with 231 runs in six games at the time Sri Lanka exited the World Cup, followed by Nissanka with 221 runs. Hasaranga, with 16 wickets in 8 games, was well ahead of the rest of the pack.

“They have been amazing and we need to keep pushing them as they have got great careers ahead,” Shanaka maintained.

Sri Lanka team left Dubai today ending a month-long stay in the bubble.